Restored Order of Sacraments

On June 29 — the Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul— the Most Rev. David A. Konderla, Bishop of the Diocese of Tulsa and Eastern Oklahoma, released the new Policies & Procedures for the Restored Order of the Sacraments of Initiation as particular law within the diocese. Bishop Konderla outlines the spiritual and practical rationale for the change in Come Holy Spirit: Restored Order Addendum - Pastoral Letter 2024, now available on the diocese website in English and Spanish here.

Anticipating this necessary priority for the future spiritual health of the diocese, Bishop Konderla commissioned a team of priests, deacons, and lay catechists to study the age of Confirmation and the diocese’s approach to the evangelization of the young.

“The Presbyteral Council and I were happy to accept the commission's recommendation to change both the age of Confirmation and the way in which we go about accompanying both parents and children into a deeper understanding of the mysteries of the faith,” said Bishop Konderla.

Commonly referred to as Restored Order — restoring the order of the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism-Confirmation-First Eucharist) — the diocese will uniformly transition the age of Confirmation to the 3^rd grade at the same time as First Holy Communion.   Both sacraments will be administered at the same Mass by the bishop. Currently, the age of Confirmation varies widely within the diocese from 2nd grade up to late high school. Individual parishes will have a five-year transition period to effect the change and will be able to move at their own pace to full implementation by 2029.

“…We will restore the proper order of the sacraments for all in the diocese and not just those initiated through the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA),” writes Bishop Konderla. “With the increased number of children receiving all the sacraments and able to live out of the grace of those sacraments from an early age, we will then be able to bear much fruit for the Lord and better meet the challenges of the mission today.”

Those with questions or concerns may contact Sarah Jameson, Director of the Department of Evangelization & Catechesis, at 918-307-4939, or via email at [email protected].